Bishop Peter Baldacchino of the Diocese of Las Cruces blessing some of the livestock at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum on May 14.
NM Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum continues Blessing of the Fields tradition
On Friday, the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum held a small, private ceremony in place of its annual Blessing of the Fields procession.
The centuries-old tradition is in honor of the Feast Day of San Ysidro, the patron saint of farmers (1070-1130).
Due to the continued restrictions for COVID-19 safe practices, the Museum wasn’t able to have the public procession, which routinely drew several hundred people each year. The Museum has hosted the procession the last 22 years, with the exception of 2020.
“The Museum wanted to continue the historic tradition this year since the Museum is open, and we look forward to hosting a large event in 2022,” museum officials shared.
Participating this year was Bishop Peter Baldacchino of the Diocese of Las Cruces, Juan Moreno from the Diocese, and three members of Tortugas Pueblo, Patrick Narvaez, Henry Narvaez, and Bill Acosta.
The group blessed the Museum’s animals, field, and water in the acequia.
